Regulator



Sept. 18, 1945. a O AUSTIN 2,384,786

REGULATOR Filed Jan. 12, 1944 WITNESSES: INVENTOR al Bascum 0. Auszin.

Patented Sept. 18, 1945 UNITED REGULATOR Bascum 0. Austin, Lima, om, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application is..." 12, 1944, Serial No. slam 3 Claims. (Cl. 201-51) This invention relates to electrical apparatus and. in particular, to regulators of the pile type.

An object oi this invention is to provide a lightweight regulator of the pile type which is stable in operation and is provided with a stationary pressure plate capable of being externally adiusted.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a sealed pile regulator for externally making adjustments in the setting of a stationary pressure plate within the sealed casing of the regulator.

Other objects this invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a view in elevation and partly in section oi a regulator embodying the teachings of this invention.

Rei'erring to the drawing, this invention is illustrated by reierence to the regulator shown therein. The regulator ill is of the .pile type having a stack l2 of aligned disks ll oi high resistance material such as carbon or the like mounted in a sectionalized housing or casing i8 and disposed to be operated by an electromagnet II. The casing II is formed of a plurality of sections, and end or base section 20 being connected to an opposite end section 22 by an intermediate constricted section 24.

The stack l2 of disks ll of high resistance material, is assembled in operative relation on a shaft or rod 28 of insulating material such as a ceramic rod, the rod 2! extending through openings 28 positioned centrally in each oi the disks It for maintaining the disks in aligned relation. One end oi the rod" is supported in avsleeve 2| oi conducting material; the sleeve 30 being secured to a ring 22 of conducting material as by means 0! the flared ends 24 and the shoulder 20 carried at one end of the sleeve for forming a recess into which the ring 32 is fitted. The ring 22 is, in turn, secured to the face of a plug 83 which is disposed centrally '01 a diaphragm 25 which is positioned with its periphery seating against the shoulder 31 carried by the end section 22. The ring 22 is secured to the face of the plug 22 by means of the screws 38 disposed in As illustrated, the end of the plug 22 opposite the i'ace to which the ring 22 is mounted is provided with a centrally located threaded recess 43, the purpose or which will be explained more fully hereinaiter, The plug 33 is sealed to the diaphragm II by applying solder 45 to the Joint i'ormed where the end 01 the plug 32 projects through the diaphragm 25. Similarly the diaphragm 25 is sealed in its assembled position with its periphery seating against the shoulder 21 by applying solder-ll or the like to the periphery oi the diaphragm and the end cap 22. The diaphragm thus functions to seal the end oi the end section 22.

In order to provide an electrical connection external oi the housing or casing It, the ring 56 being provided for insulating the bolt 52 from the end section 22. As illustrated, a pressure plate I8 is disposed between the other flanged end'oi the conducting sleeve and the end 0! the stack l2 of disks M for distributing pressure over the face of the stack, the pressure plate I. preferably being sealed to the sleeve 20 to provide a good electrical connection therebetween.

The other end oi the rod 26 projects from other end of the stack l2, a pressure plate 60 being disposed about the shaft 20 adjacent the end oi the stack l2. The pressure plate 60 is secured to a sleeve 82 positioned about the rod 26 in a manner similar to the mountingoi the pressure plate 58. The sleeve 62 is similar to the sleeve 30, being provided with a shoulder 64 and a flared outer end 86 spaced therefrom ior holding a ring 88 of conducting material. The ring BI is similar to the ring 32 at the opposite end of the stack, having a projection 10 for receiving a screw 12 for securing one end of a conductor ll thereto. The other end of the conductor 14 is secured to the bolt Ii which projects through but is insulated from the section 20 oi the casingin a manner similar to the mounting of the bolt 52.

As illustrated, the section 20 oi the housing or casing It has an inwardly projecting partition 12 disposed about its periphery approximately midway of the length oi. the section. On one side of the partition 18, a ring of stainless steel or the like having a sloping or beveled surface 82 is disposed to seat against the outer walls of the section 22 and the partition II. The ring 80 is of such a size that an armature member 84 may be fitted within the inner diameter of the ring.

The armature member '4 utilized in the regulator II is substantially a disk and is carried by the ring I which is secured to the sleeve 62. The armature member 04 is preferably faced on one side thereof by a sheet or layer of insulating material I! which functions to electrically separate the armature member 24 and a spring member 42. The spring member 44 illustrated is a leaf spring and may be of star-shape or may be a circular disk, the ends or outer p phery of which are bent to seat against the sloped surface 82 of the ring 40, the purpose of which will be more fully described hereinafter. In order to hold the spring ll in the position described, a reinforcing sheet I of metal or the like is placed adjacent the surface oi the spring 24 opposite the surface in contact with the sheet 26 of insulating material, and a layer 42 of insulating material is then placed against the supporting sheet 90. This assembly of the insulating sheet 92, reinforcing plate 44, spring member ll, insulation 88, and the armature member 44 is held together as an integral unit by means of the screw 24 and is mounted as an integral unit on the ring 82 by means of the screw it, the screw it being insulated from the ring 64.

As illustrated, a winding 22 having leads 21 and N is positioned on the other side of the partition II of the section 24 and disposed to be encased in the housing I4. However, before the winding 94 is positioned in the casing it, a ring I" of brass or similar nonmagnetic material is secured about the inner circumference of the ring I! as by brazing, as shown at I02, and a metallic sleeve I04 provided with threads on its inner surface is secured to the inner circumference of the brass ring Hi as by brazing at I", as illustrated. In positioning the winding 94 in the housing, the winding preferably mounted on a spool I" of insulating material is slipped over the end of the sleeve I04 to a position where the side wall of the insulating spool I08 seats against the partition II, and the brass ring Ill and the leads l1 and 22 project through suitable openings in the casing. In this position, an end cap or plate Iii may be secured to the ends of the section 24 of the housing by the bolts II2 which are disposed in spaced relation about the periphery of the end plate ill. The end plate I ll seating against the winding it maintains the winding in position about the sleeve Hi4 and prevents a movement of the winding.

With the winding u assembled as described, a core member l'I4 having an externally threaded surface is threaded into the threaded sleeve I04 to a position where the end of the core member H4 is spaced a predetermined distance from the armature member 84. By adjusting the position of the core member II4, a predetermined positicn of the core member may be obtained where a required balance between the magnetic pull and the force of the spring member I! is obtained over an operating range of the regulator. This position of the core member II4 will necessarily depend upon the strength of the spring member 82 which is positioned to apply pressure to the stack I2 and the slope of the sloped surface 22 of the ring member 80, it being noted that as the armature member is moved under the influence of the magnetic pull, that the effective arm length of the spring member 8! changes more and more of the spring 44 engages the sloped surface 22 of the ring 80. When the core member H4 is thus adjusted to obtain the required gap between the armature member and the core member, the external end of the sleeve I04 and the core H4 is brazed as at III for sealing the threaded Joint between the two members. The threaded Joints between the end cap 22 and the constricted section 24 is likewise brazed as at III, and the threaded Joint between the constricted section 24 and the end section 22 of the casing is also brazed as at I2. to provide a sealed casing about the movable elements of the regulator I0.

As will be noted, the constricted section 24 of the casing is of a size determined by the size of the stack I2 utilized in the regulator. Preferably the constricted length of the section 24 has a diameter only slightly greater than that of the stack of disks, spacing being provided, however, for the position of a sleeve I22 of insulating material such as porcelain, the sleeve being spaced slightly from the stack I2. As illustrated, the sleeve I22, of porcelain is maintained in position by brazing ring members I24 and I24 to the constricted section 24 at opposite ends of the sleeve I22. The ring members I24 and I26 effectively prevent longitudinal movement of the sleeve I22.

In order to effectively aid in dissipating any heat that may be generated in the stack I2 of disks I4, a plurality of radiating fins I24 are disposed about the constricted section 24 of the casing, the fins I2! being preferably formed of aluminum or the like and being formed on a sleeve I30 which fits about the constricted area. The sleeve and fin assembly may be formed in two half sections which when placed about the constricted section 24 may be bolted together to form a continuous radiating assembly about the constricted section 24.

As illustrated, the end cap 22 is also provided with a vent I22 which may be sealed. After the regulator is assembled, the housing or casing I4 is preferably evacuated, suitable vacuum equipment, not shown, being attached to the vent In for accomplishing this purpose, and when evacuated, a thermally conducting electrically insulating fluid medium I34 is admitted to the housing. The iluid medium I34 may be either gaseous or liquid, the main requirement being that the medium utilized be inert to the material, such as carbon, which is utilized in forming the disks I4 of the stack, and that it has no chemical effect on the composition of the other movable elements within the casing.

The gases helium and hydrogen are especially suited for use in the casing I4 as they are inert with respect to the disks, making it possible to operate the regulator at elevated temperatures without destroying the disks I4. Further, hydrogen and helium transmit heat at a rate about six times faster than can be obtained if the thermally conducting fluid medium is not present within the casing. As the gases are inert with respect to the disks of resistance material, a longer life of the disks can be obtained as the gas prevents frosting or freezing of the disks due to sweating and also prevents deterioration of the disks by excluding oxygen therefrom.

Where a liquid medium is used instead of the inert gaseous medium, it is preferred to employ a permanently liquid dialkyl silicone. Of the known silicones, that silicone liquid which is essentially dimethyl silicone which has been polymerized and is tree of mono-methyl silicone groups is preferred. The essentially dimethyl silicones are produced by fractionatlng a mixture of methyl silicone ethoxides to separate the dimethyl silicone diethoxide as a substantially pure component which is hydrolyzed to the dimetlnvl silicol and then dehydrated with an agent such as sulphuric acid to dimethyl sllicones of predetermined molecular size. By tractionating the oily dimethyl silicones, a stable liquid 01' predetermined viscosity may be obtained. This process and product are described in greater detail in the copending application of J. G. Ford and J. R. Wenzel, Serial No. 439,066, flied April 15, i942, and assigned to the assignee of this invention. The dimethyl silicone insulating medium is especially suited for use in the regulator of this invention, as it is especially stable over wide ranges or temperature, very little change in viscosity being encountered over ranges of from --'l0' 1''. up to as high as 500 F.

After the fluid medium I34 is admitted to the housing it, a cap I" is placed upon the vent I32 and the joint is brazed or soldered as at "I for eflectively sealing the vent. Thus, all the moving elements or the regulator are enveloped in a fluid insulating medium, and the casing is sealed to prevent loss or contamination of the fluid insulating medium.

'As illustrated, the end section 22 has side walls which project beyond the diaphragm II, the side walls being threaded as at I40. An end cap I42, the sides of which are threaded as at I is disposed in threaded engagement with the threaded end I of the end section 22. Centrally disposed of the end cap I42 is an inwardly projecting plug Ill threaded as at I for cooperating with the threaded recess 42 of the plug 33.

As illustrated. the threaded plug I is disposed in threaded engagement with the threaded recess ll as the end cap I42 is threaded on the end section 22. Thus, as the end cap 2 is screwed onto the section 22, the threaded engagement of the plug I with the plug 38 carried'by the diaphragm ll eflects a movement or the diaphragm and, consequently, a movement of the pressure plate Bl to a predetermined setting, the pressure plate 58 being normally considered as stationary. In order to control the fineness o! the adjustment or the position or the diaphragm, to adjust the setting the pressure plate 58 within the sealed casing, the pitch or the threads I and I and, consequently, the pitch of the threads I40 and those of the threaded recess 43 are controlled in a deflnite manner. For example, if the threads I on the cap 2 are 32 per inch, and the threads Ill on the plug I" are 40 per inch, then one complete turn of the end cap 2 will move the diaphragm II or the pressure plate ll a distance of .00625 inch. Since the movement or the pressure plate 50 is the differential between the pitches or thethreads carried by the end cap 2 and the plug I, it is apparent that the flneness of the adjustment can be controlled by making the pitch oi. the two threads approach one another. By utilizing the diflerential of the threads, it is possible with the assembly described hereinbeiore to make adjustments in the setting or the pressure plate Bl within the sealed casing in fractions or one-thousandths of an inch, giving a sensitive adjustment for the regulator.

The regulator or this invention is very efllcient, it being apparent that the fluid insulating medium I effectively dissipates the stack i2 of disks M, the fluid medium providheat generated in ing a continuous thermally conducting path from the disks to the radiating fins I28 carried about the constricted section 24. Further, the fluid insulating medium functions to suppress arcing between the disks of resistance material, thereby preventing deterioration of the disks and greatly prolonging the life of the regulator. In addition to the eflicient dissipation of heat and the prevention of deterioration of the elements, the mechanism for adjusting the setting of the stationary pressure plate 68 renders the regulator eflicient for installation, it being apparent that very flne adjustments of the regulator can be readily accomplished.

Although this invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it is, oi. course, not to be limited thereto except insofar as is necessitated by the scope oi the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a sealed regulator, in combination, a stack or disks of resistance material, a pressure plate at each end or the stack of disks, a spring member disposed to apply pressure to the stack through one of the pressure plates, an electromagnet having an armature member disposed to control the pressure applied in response to the energization of the electromagnet, a casing for the stack and associated spring and armature members for housing them, the casing having a diaphragm disposed for holding the other pressure plate, the casing having sealed joints to render the casing leakprooi, a thermally conducting insulating medium disposed within the casing to envelop the stack and associated spring and armature members, and means comprising a member disposed in threaded engagement with the casing, the member also being in threaded engagement with the diaphragm thereby to eflect a predetermined movement or the diaphragm to adjust the setting 01 the other pressure plate within the sealed casing as the member is turned relative to the casing.

2. In a sealed regulator, in combination, a stack of disks or resistance material, a pressure plate at each end of the stack of disks, a spring member disposed to apply pressure to the stack through one o! the pressure plates, an electromagnet having an armature member disposed to control the pressure applied in response to the energization of the electromagnet, a casing for the stack and associated spring and armature members for housing them, the casing having a diaphragm disposed for holding the other pressure plate, the casing having sealed joints to render the casing leakproot, a thermally conducting insulating medium disposed within the casing to envelop the stack and associated spring and armature members, a threaded receiver carried by the diaphragm, an end cap carried by the casing disposed over a face of the diaphragm for movement relative thereto, and a threaded plug carried by the end cap disposed in threaded engagement with the receiver to effect an adjustment in the position of the diaphragm and the setting 0! the other pressure plate within the sealed casing when the end cap is moved.

3. In a sealed regulator, in combination, a stack of disks oi resistance material, a pressure plate at each end of the stack 01' disks, a spring member disposed to apply pressure to the stack through one o! the pressure plates, an electromagnet having an armature member disposed to control the pressure applied in response to the energization of the electromagnet, a casing for the stack and associated spring snd srmeture members for-housing them, the casing hsvlng a. diaphragm disposed for holding the other pressure plate, the casing having sealed Joints to render the casing leakproof, a thermally eonductinginsulating medium disposed within the casing to envelop the stack and associated spring and armature members, a threaded receiver carried by the diaphragm, an end esp carried in threaded engagement by the casing disposed for movement relstlve to the disphragm, and s BABCUM O. AUSTIN. 

